EU Council and North Africa Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

EU Council and North Africa

Ben Bradshaw Excerpts
Monday 7th February 2011

(13 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Ben Bradshaw Portrait Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter) (Lab)
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What discussions took place at the EU Council about events in Egypt lending added urgency to breaking the impasse in the middle east peace process? What is the Prime Minister personally doing to break that impasse?

Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton Portrait The Prime Minister
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I did have discussions with Baroness Ashton about this, it was also discussed around the table and I had a very good meeting with Hillary Clinton in Munich. Obviously, there are concerns that instability in Egypt will make progress on the middle east peace process more difficult, but I strongly believe that we should not take our eye off the ball and that we should keep the pressure up—that means pressure on both sides. It means pressure on Israel to make progress on issues such as settlements and pressure on the Palestinians to return to meaningful talks. Britain will play a very key role in this, and I commend Baroness Ashton for her work.